Raducanu Rehires Coach Behind 2021 US Open Victory
Emma Raducanu has formally rehired Andrew Richardson, the coach who played a pivotal role in her 2021 US Open triumph, as she prepares to return to competition next week at the Strasbourg WTA 500 event, part of her buildup to the French Open.
Richardson will accompany Raducanu in Strasbourg, marking her first tournament appearance in two months following a hiatus due to post-viral illness. Early in her comeback, Raducanu traveled to Richardson’s base at the Ferrer Academy in La Nucía, Spain, near Benidorm, for an intensive clay-court training block. This period also served as a trial for reestablishing their formal coaching partnership.
“Grateful to have reconnected with someone who has known me for over a decade now and looking forward to building together one iteration at a time.”
Raducanu and Richardson share a long-standing relationship, having first worked together during her youth career. Initially, Raducanu was coached by Nigel Sears at the start of her breakthrough summer in 2021 before partnering with Richardson in July of that year. Their collaboration culminated in one of tennis’s most remarkable upsets when Raducanu won the US Open as a qualifier without dropping a set.
Less than two weeks after this historic victory, Raducanu made the controversial decision not to extend her coaching arrangement with Richardson, which had been on a short-term interim basis. This choice sparked considerable debate, with many experts suggesting that maintaining continuity with Richardson, who had guided her through a life-altering period, would have been advantageous. This marked the beginning of multiple coaching changes for Raducanu, as she has since struggled to find a permanent coaching solution.
Raducanu’s most recent coaching partnership was with Francisco Roig, lasting six months before their split in February. Roig currently coaches six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek. At her latest tournament, Indian Wells in March, Raducanu was accompanied by LTA coach Alexis Canter.
Considering the intense scrutiny surrounding her career and personal life, Raducanu has consistently sought support from familiar figures from her pre-breakthrough days. Her longest coaching tenure was with Nick Cavaday, another childhood coach, with whom she worked for over a year until he stepped away due to personal health reasons.
Her return to the top 30 rankings last year was credited to her partnership with Mark Petchey, a former coach who also works in tennis broadcasting, allowing only informal and intermittent collaboration. Now, Raducanu has reunited with the coach who guided her to her greatest achievement.
Emma Raducanu has not played since losing to Amanda Anisimova in the third round at Indian Wells.
